Cyprus-Forum.com

[Shipwreck]

Saudi Arabia is to lift its ban on women drivers in an attempt to stem a rising suffragette-style movement in the deeply conservative state.

Government officials have confirmed the landmark decision and plan to issue a decree by the end of the year.

The move is designed to forestall campaigns for greater freedom by women, which have recently included protesters driving cars through the Islamic state in defiance of a threat of detention and loss of livelihoods.

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The royal family has previously balked at granting women driving permits, claiming the step did not have full public support. The driving ban dates back to the establishment of the state in 1932, although recently the government line has weakened.

"There has been a decision to move on this by the Royal Court because it is recognised that if girls have been in schools since the 1960s, they have a capability to function behind the wheel when they grow up," a government official told The Daily Telegraph. "We will make an announcement soon."

Abdulaziz bin Salamah, the deputy information minister, said the official reform programme had been dogged by debate over the issue.

"In terms of women driving, we don't have it now because of the reticence of some segments of society," he said. "For example, my mother wouldn't want my sister to drive.

"It's something she cannot grapple with. But there is change on the way. I think the fair view is that one can be against it but one does not have the right to prevent it."

If the ban on women driving is lifted, it could be years before the full impact is seen. Practical hurdles stopping women obtaining licences and insurance must be overcome.

Mohammad al-Zulfa, a reformist member of the Saudi consultative Shura Council, which scrutinises official policies in the oil-rich state, said reversing the ban was part of King Abdullah's "clever" strategy of incremental reform.

"When it was first raised, the extremists were really mad," he said. "Now they just complain. It is diminishing into a form of consent."

Saudi Arabia maintains a strict segregation of the sexes outside the family home.

An unaccompanied woman must shop behind curtains and cannot hail a taxi.

Critics believe allowing women to drive would be the first step towards a gradual erosion of the kingdom's modesty laws. A woman would have to remove the traditional abaya robe to get a clear view behind the wheel.

"Allowing women to drive will only bring sin," a letter to Al-Watan newspaper declared last year. "The evils it would bring - mixing between the genders, temptations, and tarnishing the reputation of devout Muslim women - outweigh the benefits."

Saudi women have mounted growing protests. Fouzia al-Ayouni, the country's most prominent women's rights campaigner, has risked arrest by leading convoys of women drivers. "We have broken the barrier of fear," she said. "We want the authorities to know that we're here, that we want to drive, and that many people feel the way we do."






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[greek.god]

Wahhabi Progress? Give me a break.

[purdey]

It wasn't that long ago that women of other cultures had to protest for more freedom.Let's give other people a break and get rid of this arrogant attitude.

[PARAMED]

They also protested during the build up to Gulf one 1990/91, when they saw females from US/Britain driving vehicles, drove around Jeddah/Riyadh.

Short lived however when the military left and the Saudi Police clamped down again

[Piratis]

It wasn't that long ago that women of other cultures had to protest for more freedom.Let's give other people a break and get rid of this arrogant attitude.

The funny thing is that Saudi Arabia is among the worst countries in womens rights, it is totally undemocratic, and still it is one of the best allies of those "nobles" that supposedly fight for democracy and human rights against the "axis of evil".

The western media kept showing of how bad the Taliban treated women, or even womens rights in Iraq and Iran. Why don't they show what happens in their good friends the Saudi Arabia which is not much better than the Taliban and certainly worst than Iraq or Iran?

[tessintrnc]

Lets hope that this is the beginning of the end of suppression ..................

[purdey]

We agree on something Piratis.Maybe it has something to do with money? and Countries not wanting to fall foul of future Middle East investment.

[Tim Drayton]

It wasn't that long ago that women of other cultures had to protest for more freedom.Let's give other people a break and get rid of this arrogant attitude.

The funny thing is that Saudi Arabia is among the worst countries in womens rights, it is totally undemocratic, and still it is one of the best allies of those "nobles" that supposedly fight for democracy and human rights against the "axis of evil".

The western media kept showing of how bad the Taliban treated women, or even womens rights in Iraq and Iran. Why don't they show what happens in their good friends the Saudi Arabia which is not much better than the Taliban and certainly worst than Iraq or Iran?

I agree. Why does the totally corrupt and inept Saudi royal family have so much power in the world to the extent that the vile abuses of human rights that take place in their kingdom go uncriticised and they can ride roughshod over the laws of any country in the world? OK - they have got oil, but so did Saddam Hussein.

[purdey]

Saddam had pennies compared to these guys.They have more power than the US and China together.I think it were otherwise we would have seen and end to their dispicable ways.

[Southerner]

Saddam had pennies compared to these guys.They have more power than the US and China together.I think it were otherwise we would have seen and end to their dispicable ways.

The only reason that they have so much power is oil; if the money spent on war games (gulf wars) had been spent on alternative forms of power the Saudis and the rest of the middle east would back to the level of Sudan, as it is they are untouchables and are allowed to carry on with their poor record of human and equal rights.
Tony B'liar even supressed an inquiry into backhanders for fear of upsetting some 2,000 in line to the throne Saudi prince.